Underground Gold is Towcester-bound for the English Greyhound Derby after completing a brilliant unbeaten run through the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby at Monmore on Saturday – impressing all and sundry with his pace and class as Paul Young’s dog lifted the £20,000 prize in all-the-way style – and in another electric time.

Posting the fastest winning clock in a Monmore Puppy Derby final, his 27.79sec (normal) return matched his heat success and had not just clockwatchers purring but a bumper crowd at the Wolverhampton venue enjoying a top-class youngster grab the 480m contest by the scruff of the neck, soon in command on his way to a popular victory.

Owned by the Underground Greyhounds syndicate headed by Alan Heard, Underground Gold took his career tally to six wins from seven starts and laid the foundation for success in Saturday’s final by starting quickly and leading on the dash to the first bend.

Thereafter, the August 2024 son of Callaway Pro Am and Droopys Charm, whose brother Bowmers Buddy also made the final, was away and on his way to a six lengths win over Droopys Script (Maxine Locke) and Aayamza Shazza (John Mullins).

The victory delighted trainer Young, who was notching a second Category One in the space of eight days after Bombay Buck’s Coral Golden Sprint Final success at Romford. Outlining a plan around the Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd. English Greyhound Derby, Young said his runner’s maturity means a crack at Towcester had to be next.

“He’s certainly fast enough to go to Towcester and, while he’s young, is quite mature for his age,” said Young. “He’s led at the bend in his races at Monmore but he actually didn’t have things all his own way in the semis and had to show trackcraft to make the turn because there was pace inside him, but he handled it well.

“It was the same in his first two races at Romford. He had to work hard to get to the front in his first race and then in his second race he was behind early but ran on well to finish second, so that shows you he’s not a one-trick-pony, although we know his great strength is off the front. He’s got great pace and definitely up there with the best pup we’ve had.

“You just hope they keep it up, keep improving, and then we’ll see where we’re at for Towcester. He’ll likely trial there in a couple of weeks and we might then take in a race, another trial, or go straight into the Derby. We’ll see what he needs after the trial.

“Thanks to everyone at Monmore on Saturday. They made us really welcome and all the team who own him had a great night. Well done to Alan (Heard) for pulling a nice bunch together and we’re having fun which is what it’s all about.

“Thanks and well done, too, to Miriam (Young, assistant) and the team.”

Tony Williamson, Monmore racing manager, congratulated connections and said Underground Gold was the best winner of a Monmore Puppy Derby he had seen.

“I thought he was flawless on the night and is great to watch in full flight – he’s relentless,” said Williamson. “It was a fantastic end to a great Ladbrokes Puppy Derby and we had the crowd and atmosphere to match the performance on the night. All round a great night.”